Jerry Only, bassist of the legendary punk band The Misfits, is open to reuniting with original vocalist Glenn Danzig. The reunited band played their first show together since 1983 at this weekend’s Denver Riot Fest. Regarding this new reunion, Only told The Rolling Stone,
“I want it to continue, and I know Doyle and Glenn want it to continue. We just have to be big enough people to make it continue.”
Danzig and Only have been suing each other for years over the rights to use the Misfits name. Ironically, this reunion stemmed from their most recent 2014 legal battle.
The original lineup of The Misfits broke up in 1983. Only continued to play under the Misfits name while Danzig formed the titular band Danzig in 1995. Regarding finally working together again, Only said,
“Eventually, Doyle, Glenn and I have to write new albums. Why don’t we work together and make the greatest album ever? It’s great playing together again. We’ve got a rehearsal space and it’s really fun. We keep laughing. That’s when you know it’s good.”
The band became an iconic symbol of horror punk in the late 70’s to early 80’s, as their music often utilized themes of B-movies and science fiction. Though The Misfits were associated with the rise of hardcore punk in the early 80’s, they actually based their style on harsher versions of popular 50’s and 60’s music, such as Buddy Holly. In the 1990’s after a series of lineup changes, the band embraced heavy metal and all but abandoned their punk roots. Longtime fans will surely embrace the band’s return to punk form.